Saturday Sewing: Machine Appliqué with the look of Hand Stitching

This is my favourite Machine Appliqué technique.  As I mentioned previously,  I love appliqué quilts.  I love everything about them from designing to stitching them to quilting.  What I don’t like is how long it takes for me to hand sew each piece to the background piece. 

There are many different machine appliqué techniques like raw edge with a blanket stitch but in this post, I will showcase the hand look appliqué using the  blanket stitch.  My previous post I covered raw edge machine appliqué with a satin stitch.

All the individual pieces in this block have been cut about 1/8” to ¼”  bigger than the actual size using a digital cutter.  Then I cut a fusible interfacing the actual size of the appliqué piece. Remember to pay attention when cutting the interfacing pieces that they may have to be reversed in order to iron to the back of the fabric piece.  Using a fabric glue stick (your preference) I folded all the edges to the inside of the appliqué piece and glued them in place. 

Using the block template as a guide, I placed all the pieces with a bit of glue on the back to hold them in place. 

Using the AP appliqué foot I will test on a scrap fabric the width and length of the blind hem stitch I want to use.   I write down the width and length of the stitch I prefer with a marker for later use.

The trick to this technique is the thread and the stitch.  I use a very fine thread and I match the colour as close as possible to the appliqué piece. The stitch is the blanket stitch but I adjust settings to make sure it is very narrow and short – many Janome machines have this capability. The Madeira 75wt thread will disappear into the fabric, the stitch will just lightly pick at the applique piece and look like it was hand done.  A light stabilizer by Madeira on the back is a good idea to prevent puckering and tunneling. 

 I use

Machine Embroidery for Stuffies

I’ve used my Janome Skyline S9 for a lot of different things – embroidery, quilting, apparel sewing, decor sewing, hemming, free motion quilting, you name it. I had no idea I could use it to make little stuffed animals using machine embroidery.

This was such a fun and easy project. There are lots of files available for stuffed animals. This cute little cat family can be found here. Just make sure you download the file for your machine (for the Janome Skyline S9 you need a JEF file).

This cute little cat family came together so quickly and easily!

To start, I set up my RE20a (6.7″ x 7.9″) hoop with a lightweight stabilizer and a light fleece fabric.

For the first part of the embroidery file, you need to have your front fabric facing right side up. The the file will outline the stuffed animal. After that step, I placed some water soluble stabilizer on top of my fabric and began embroidering the front of the cat.

Placing a water soluble stabilizer or lightweight tear-away stabilizer will help keep your embroidery stitches on top of the fabric. This is even more important if you are using a fabric that is plush.

Ears first!

Every time I see these little paws I can’t help but smile. Aren’t they the cutest?

This embroidery file showed 11 minutes start to finish. The longest part of the project was changing over the thread colours. If you have all your thread lined up and ready to you so you speed up the process.

Once all of the machine embroidery is done on the front of the stuffy, place your back piece of fabric over top (right side facing down) and ensure the entire outline of the cat is covered. The next step in the embroidery file will piece the front and the back of your stuffie together. The file leaves a slight opening so you can turn your stuffie right side out.

Trim close to the outline of your stuffie taking care to trim carefully around the ears as you want to try to be quite close to get all the detail.

Turn right side out, stuff with batting and hand sew the bottom to complete.

These make such cute little gifts! Of course my three year old daughter was quick to want to play with this little cat family.

I just think they are so adorable.

I made one of the little kittens into a keychain. Before the last step in the embroidery file (piecing the front and back together), I carefully placed a little tab made out of scrap leather I had on hand and attached a key ring.

Have you made any stuffies using embroidery files? We are typically known as a dog family around here so I’m definitely going to look for some dog stuffies to make next. How about your family? Cat or dog? Could you see yourself making these cute little stuffies as a little add-on gift, key chain or even as a gift tag for presents and gift giving?

A Sneak Peak into Hemming and Mending Like a Pro Class

How often have you heard a fellow sewist say that they won’t hem someone’s pants for them? Let’s not sugar coat it, hemming and mending items are the least fun tasks as a sewist. However, they are a necessity and that is why we think our Hemming and Mending Like a Pro class is so awesome. 

In this 2 hour class we cover many quick and easy techniques that will make the time you spend hemming and mending super productive. We also highlight a bunch of cool accessories for your Janome that make this process even easier! You are sure to leave this class with the know how to tackle any hemming/mending project with ease and a finish that is very professional.

Janome’s Taping Guide Foot

Hands up if you hate ironing. I know you can’t see  me but my hand is way up. I love to iron fabric straight out of the dryer and I love ironing quilt blocks. That’s it. Please don’t ask me to iron anything else. For this reason I love Janome’s Taping Guide Foot. Using this foot and either store bought bias tape or tape binding you make yourself, your raw edge is sealed in one step!

Look at how amazing the stitching is on this! The Tape Guide Foot lines everything up so you get a super polished, professional looking bound edge with no ironing! You can even use decorative stitches!!

Do you know what this foot is?

It is Janome’s Automatic Button Hole Foot. I’m going to bet that if your machine came with one that it sees very little light of day unless you make things with button holes all the time.

Did you know that you can do more with this foot than just make button holes? You sure can!! Combine this with a darning stitch and you can mend holes in your clothing. Pick either a thread to match for your mending to blend in or a contrasting thread for a bold statement!

If you would like to learn more about these techniques and about other ways to make hemming and mending a breeze, check out our class schedule including more details on how to sign up.

ED: Points to note on registering for our virtual classes: 

Hemming and Mending like a Pro is back by popular demand and will be presented on Tuesday 16th March at 2-4pm Eastern.

• As usual, registered attendees will get a link to the video recording after the class. These classes are being offered only by participating Janome Canada dealers so you will need to contact one of the dealers on the list below to register for this class.
• There is a set fee for the class so there is no need for you to call around to get the “best” price. Please support your local dealer if they are participating.
• Once you have registered, please be patient! We will close registrations for the class one week before the class OR before that if the class becomes fully booked.
• Your dealer will then email you the class information including the log on code shortly after registrations have closed. If you do not receive this,  check your spam and junk folders and contact the dealer with whom you registered. 

PLEASE NOTE:

• Once registration for the class has been closed, and you have been sent the log in code, there can be NO cancellations or refunds. If you unable to attend ( we know …… life happens),  then you will be able to watch the video after the class and receive any Notes (if that was applicable for that class). The dealer will email this to you. 
• All of our classes this year have been fully booked, and we have had to turn people away.  Please be mindful of this as we move  forward with these popular classes. 
  
  Janome Canada Dealers participating in the Hemming and Mending like a Pro class:

Janome Canada Dealers participating in the Sewing and Embroidery for the Food Fanatic class:

• Ultimate Sewing Centre,  Ontario  Tel: 905-436-9193 ultimatesewing@bellnet.ca
• Triangle Sewing Centre in Ontario  www.trianglesewing.com
• Taylor Sewing, Ontario  Tel: 613-342-3153    paige@taylorsewing.com
• Threads that Bind, Ontario Tel: 519-922-1010 or  info@threadsthatbind.ca
• Red Deer Sewing Centre,  Alberta  Tel 403-346-2597  sales@reddeersewing.com
• KW Sewing Machines,  Ontario  Tel 519-884-6981 kwsewingmachines@gmail.com

Stitch on!!!

~ AmandaBee

Janome HQ’s Instagram LIVE TODAY, WEDNESDAY 1pm EST

Join us LIVE at 1pm EST @janomehq Instagram page every Wednesday for Janome HQ’s NEW series “Janome’s Magical Machine Mystery Tour” as we highlight a different machine in the Janome line. From entry level to Top of the Line; embroidery machines; longarm quilting machines; sergers and MORE!

What machine and Janome goodies will we talk about this week? It’s a MYSTERY so you must tune in each week for the big reveal! Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE presentation, though. They’ll be stored in the IGTV icon on the Janome HQ Instagram Page and later posted as videos on the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

Follow us on the Janome HQ Facebook page and write me at Classes@Janome-Canada.com (copy and paste in a new browser) for more information about upcoming on-line classes and (eventually) on site classes at The Janome Sewing and Learning Centre in Oakville, ON; Janome Canada’s Head Quarters.

Happy Sewing and #sharethejanomelove!

Achieving a neat, professional finish on garments using our Janome Coverpro machines

We have just completed another virtual course of 3 classes on our Janome Coverhem machines through our Janome Canada dealers. Erin and I team-taught these classes and we had a lot of fun showing all the stitch programs available on our Janome  Coverpro’s….and a whole lot more.

The pic above is the reverse side of a two thread wide hem. The fabric used to make this knit top is quite stretchy and so the hem stitching needs to be able to stretch with the fabric. A straight stitch on a sewing machine just won’t do what I need…..a proper coverhem is required to give that flexible, professional finish. I bought my Janome Coverpro many years ago and I honestly do not regret a single day I have had the pleasure of using it. It has elevated my garment sewing to a professional level and is so quick and easy to get the results I desire.

There is my knit top: drape neck, bound armholes and coverhemmed hem line (reverse side shown in pic above).

TIP: it is well worth spending that little bit extra money for good quality fabric. I have been “burnt” several times with buying cheap, poor quality fabric which did not wash and wear well. This is regrettable as you spend more or less the same amount of effort and time making the garment to be disappointed when your garment does not hold up well. Some poor quality fabrics do not have good “recovery” so they tend to stretch out. I also do not like it when a fabric pills and fades – signs of inferior quality. I have learned my lesson and I’m happy to say that this remnant above was not inexpensive but was well worth the extra $$ as the quality is there and I have so enjoyed wearing this top often.

This is one of the first items I made with a medium weight ribbed cotton knit using this boxy shaped T which is quite loose fitting  – nice for hot weather. I used my Janome 1000CPX for the hem, sleeve edges as well as over the binding for the neck opening. I serged the binding in place and then pressed the seam to one side. Lastly, I used the coverhem from the front/right side so that the seam inside was “flattened” and held in very nicely in place.  The 2 thread wide stitching on the outside was an effective top stitching.  Again, the good quality cotton knit has stood up to wash & wear….yay!

This was a lovely piece of striped scuba I bought in London, UK when I last went to visit my son and his family. As it is a quite stable knit, I did not need to use any stay tape. The neckline was just turned to the inside and coverhemmed down with a two thread narrow stitch. The hem line was also coverhemmed with navy thread so it is almost invisible.

A close up of the neck line: raw edge turned to the wrong side, press (with a press cloth), ride edge of the foot alongside the folded edge while stitching a two thread narrow coverhem…..SO quick and easy. The decision of whether to use a navy or white thread needed to be made. I went with navy as that is what I used on the hemline and sleeve hems.

Here is a link to more information about our Janome Coverpro machines. 

Have I convinced you yet that a Janome Coverhem machine is what you need to elevate your garment sewing to an easy, professional finish?  Contact your Janome Canada dealer to find out pricing on our various Coverpro models and when the next shipment may be arriving. 

Saturday Sewing : Machine Appliqué using the Satin Stitch.

I love appliqué quilts.  I love everything about them from designing to stitching them to quilting.  What I don’t like is how long it takes for me to hand sew each piece to the background piece.  So, I decided I would work on all the techniques of machine appliqué. 

There are many different machine appliqué techniques like raw edge with a blanket stitch but in this post, I will concentrate on the satin stitch and I will follow up with another post on the turned edge hand look. 

All the individual pieces in this block have been cut using a digital cutter with a fusible backing already ironed to the back of the fabric.  Then the pieces are ironed in place on the background piece that is cut a bit bigger than the required finished size. 

I choose a thread that is very close in colour of the appliqué piece.  Madeira has many beautiful thread colours to choose from. Janome Canada is the distributor of Madeira thread and stabilizer in Canada. Ask your Janome or Elna Canada dealer about Madeira. 

Using the appliqué foot I will test  the width and density of the satin stitch I want to use on a scrap fabric

Don’t forget to use a stabilizer on the back when using the satin stitch to prevent puckering and tunneling –  again Madeira has wonderful  tear away stabilizers from which to choose. 

 I always mark the width and length of the stitch that I like with a permanent marker on my test fabric so I can use it again at a later time on another project. 

Janome has wonderful features for appliqué like tapering with the Skyline S9  and pivoting on a corner. 

Monique

 

Adjustable Knee Lifter

Ever wish you had an extra pair of hands to hold down your fabric while you try to raise the sewing foot?

The Knee Lifter does just that.  Once I started using the knee lifter I can’t do without.  No matter your size or height, the knee lifter is adjustable so it is comfortable and easy to use.

The knee lifter is available on many Janome machines.   It has a full range of adjustments. It makes it easier to sit right in front of the needle position for better comfort. 

I use the knee lifter the most when appliqueing and I need my hands to hold the fabric in place.  It is very handy when doing curves as it allows you to make small adjustments while you are sewing.  I love it. 

It gives you a chance to sew for hours in comfort.  It is something to get used to if you haven’t tried it yet but in no time you will get the hang of it and wonder how you ever did without it.

It is an accessory I can’t do without.

Ask your local dealer if your machine can accommodate the Adjustable Knee Lifter.

Happy Quilting

Monique

Sneak Peak: Sewing and Embroidery for the Food Fanatic Class

Before I started my sewing career I studied and worked in the Environmental Science sector. I hugged trees, cleaned up waterways and helped restore critical habitat. Any time I can use my sewing powers for the health of the environment I am all in!

While developing our Sewing and Embroidery for the Food Fanatic class, I was really excited to include these reusable bowl covers! There are too many single use plastics being used in the world and it makes my heart happy to be able to make these fabric bowl covers which can be used over and over again. 

I love having cotton fabric bowl covers on hand especially in the summer. We spend a lot of time outside and live in the country. As you can bet, we have a generous amount of flies and wasps. I use these covers to keep our food safe and bug free.

If you need your bowl cover to be air tight as well you can use Food Safe PUL. This fabric comes in a variety of colours and designs! You can also make your cover with a layer of your favourite cotton on top of the PUL layer.

Nothing beats opening up your fridge and seeing your favourite fabrics covering all your bowls! Plastic wrap could never be that pretty.

If you would like to learn more about how to make your very own bowl covers AND other projects perfect for a Foodie at heart, check out our upcoming virtual Sewing and Embroidery for the Food Fanatic class!

ED: Points to note on registering for our virtual classes: 

Sewing and Embroidery for the Food Fanatic will be presented on Friday 5th March at 2-4pm Eastern.

• As usual, registered attendees will get a link to the video recording after the class. These classes are being offered only by participating Janome Canada dealers so you will need to contact one of the dealers on the list below to register for this class.
• There is a set fee for the class so there is no need for you to call around to get the “best” price. Please support your local dealer if they are participating.
• Once you have registered, please be patient! We will close registrations for the class one week before the class OR before that if the class becomes fully booked.
• Your dealer will then email you the class information including the log on code shortly after registrations have closed. If you do not receive this,  check your spam and junk folders and contact the dealer with whom you registered. 

PLEASE NOTE:

• Once registration for the class has been closed, and you have been sent the log in code, there can be NO cancellations or refunds. If you unable to attend ( we know …… life happens),  then you will be able to watch the video after the class. The dealer will email this to you. 
• All of our classes this year have been fully booked, and we have had to turn people away.  Please be mindful of this as we move  forward with these popular classes. 
  
  Janome Canada Dealers participating in the Sewing and Embroidery for the Food Fanatic class:
• Ultimate Sewing Centre,  Ontario  Tel: 905-436-9193 ultimatesewing@bellnet.ca
• Triangle Sewing Centre in Ontario  www.trianglesewing.com
• Haus of Stitches, Saskatchewan  Tel: 306-682-0772  haus.stitches@sasktel.net
• Taylor Sewing, Ontario  Tel: 613-342-3153    paige@taylorsewing.com
• Threads that Bind, Ontario Tel: 519-922-1010 or  info@threadsthatbind.ca
• Red Deer Sewing Centre,  Alberta  Tel 403-346-2597  sales@reddeersewing.com
• KW Sewing Machines,  Ontario  Tel 519-884-6981 kwsewingmachines@gmail.com

Stitch On!

~AmandaBee

The Artistic Edge cutter and Heat Transfer Vinyl

Self Adhesive and Heat transfer vinyl

There are two main vinyl types:  self adhesive vinyl (peel away the backing paper and press onto appropriate surfaces) and heat transfer vinyl (press/iron in place). Before you start, you have to understand the different uses – It is incredibly easy to get into decorating objects and customizing textiles with Janome’s Artistic Edge digital cutter.

The self- adhesive vinyl is also called a sticker and is decorative or decal vinyl. An adhesive vinyl is a plastic film, slightly stretchy, with a sticky reverse side. Adhesive vinyl comes in a range of colours and finishes: solds, prints and glitter vinyl. Some are are available with a longer or shorter lifespan that is determined by the thickness, type of adhesive and supports on which they are applied. For example, a “heavier duty” vinyl would be required for a “sticker” that may be exposed to the heat of the sun or winter weather conditions. The film is composed of a thin adhesive layer allowing it to adhere to almost any smooth, flat or curved surfaces. Vinyl comes in a sheet or on a roll. Janome offers this starter set to familiarize yourself with adhesive vinyl.

Part #: ARTVINYLSTARTKIT

Heat transfer vinyl is a vinyl that uses heat and pressure to adhere to fabric or other suitable surface.  You will need to iron or press to attach the vinyl. The heat transfer vinyl is also called HTV and is available as a sheet or on a roll. It is available in a variety of colors and the finishes are smooth matte/saturated, glittery, velvet; etc. There are also  specialties such as metal, reflective, irridescent, photo-luminescent, and so on. Janome offers this starter set to familiarize yourself with heat transfer vinyl.

Part #: ARTHEATSTARTKIT

The same procedure is used to cut out both types of vinyl:

a) In the Simple Cut software (which come standard with the cutter) , choose the CUT technique: 

b) Pre-sets: Select vinyl, insert the RED blade with a blade depth  of 2

c) The cutting mat should be very clean. 

In order to demonstrate the accuracy of the adhesive vinyl cutting, I changed the size of each snowflake to 1″ by checking the ‘proportional’ option. The very small details are well defined. The laser eye/dot makes positioning of the vinyl on the mat very easy and allows the entire sheet to be used to avoid wastage of materials to be cut. 

The HTV or heat-sticking vinyl is a little thicker and sometimes the blade has not cut the material thoroughly. We have two choices to ensure a good cutting.

a) After the first cut, DO NOT remove the mat from the cutter. Click CUT a second time. It is possible to CUT several times depending on the kind of vinyl used.

b) In the red circle in the next photo, adjust the cutting settings: there are two very useful options that we neglect to adjust: the speed of the cutting and the pressure of the blade on the material to be cut. Tests are needed to properly adapt these options to the cutting materials.

Once the cut is complete, all that remains is to iron the parts of the pattern on the fabric with an iron. WARNING: Keep the transparent sheet from the top of the vinyl as  it protects the vinyl. It is gently removed when the project has cooled a little. 

Are you excited about using vinyl to embellish projects?

Would you like to learn more about using the Artistic Edge Cutter?

Contact your local Janome Canada Dealer about the possibility of further Edge cutter classes and Edge cutter accessories. 

Originally posted on Vie Janome. Translated and edited for Janome Life. 

Janome HQ’s Instagram LIVE TODAY, WEDNESDAY 1pm EST

Join us LIVE at 1pm EST @janomehq Instagram page every Wednesday for Janome HQ’s NEW series “Janome’s Magical Machine Mystery Tour” as we highlight a different machine in the Janome line. From entry level to Top of the Line; embroidery machines; longarm quilting machines; sergers and MORE!

What machine and Janome goodies will we talk about this week? It’s a MYSTERY so you must tune in each week for the big reveal! Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE presentation, though. They’ll be stored in the IGTV icon on the Janome HQ Instagram Page and later posted as videos on the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

Follow us on the Janome HQ Facebook page and write me at Classes@Janome-Canada.com (copy and paste in a new browser) for more information about upcoming on-line classes and (eventually) on site classes at The Janome Sewing and Learning Centre in Oakville, ON; Janome Canada’s Head Quarters.

Happy Sewing and #sharethejanomelove!